The International Maritime Organization has approved vessel lane changes on approaches to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The plan also applies to ships heading to ports in San Francisco Bay and vessels navigating in the Santa Barbara Channel.

The changes take effect in 2013.

The lane modifications were crafted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Coast Guard with support from the shipping industry.

Migrating blue, fin and humpback whales are prone to ship strikes. In 2010, five whales died from ship collisions in the San Francisco area and along the north-central California coast.

The 40,000-pound carcass of a male fin whale washed up Dec. 3 on a Malibu beach. Experts said its injuries suggest it was hit by a ship.

Previously in Pacific Swell

KPCC's Molly Peterson on a Gilligan's Island style tour of environmental stories in and affecting Southern California. Named for the Yvor Winters poem: "The slow Pacific swell stirs on the sand/Sleeping to sink away, withdrawing land..."
Follow the blog at @PacificSwell and Molly at @KPCCmolly.